Working from home has become the new norm over the past few years, and even if you are making the daily trek to the office, having a personal space to complete extra tasks or indulge in something more creative can be a real boost to your professional and personal life.
But a successful home office has to be many things: comfortable, inspiring, attractive, and above all, practical. It’s a big ask for somewhere which might be little more than a box room, but fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank or commit to a months-long renovation to get the home office you deserve.
Whether you live in one of the new homes in Darlington or an older property, with some careful planning and a little imagination, you can transform your home office into a place that makes you want to sit down and get to work.
Build from the desk up
The star of every home office is the desk, so that should be your starting point when creating your new workspace.
Size is just as important as style. Maybe you want a grand desk where you can spread out and feel unencumbered, or perhaps a small corner desk would be more practical. Height is also a key consideration. A desk that’s too low for the chair will likely result in back problems, making work more difficult and less pleasurable.
If your office is simply a corner of the living room or bedroom, consider a floating desk mounted to the wall or inside a shelving unit, which you can fold away at the end of the day for some extra space.
Give yourself plenty of light
In a home office, you need to be able to see what you’re working on, but you don’t want to end up with a headache from over-bright bulbs.
The lighting of your office requires careful thought. Natural light is best, so try to make the most of what you have through careful positioning of the desk and use of reflective surfaces to maximise sunlight.
However, if your office space is windowless or otherwise lacking in sunlight, consider artificial light sources which will create similar ambiance. Filter strong bulbs through fabric or glass shades, or use accent lights like fairy lights.
Inspiring colour
Different colours have different effects on our mental state, so decorate your home office in shades that will put you in the right mood.
If you have a hectic, stressful job, consider incorporating calming colours in the form of wall paint, accessories, or artwork. Blues, greens, and purples will help soothe you throughout the busy workday.
For those who want to feel inspired, bolder colours and prints will stimulate your imagination. Even pops of accent colour using lamps, vases, and colourful file storage can both break up and liven up an office with a neutral colour scheme.
Get rid of distractions
A cluttered workspace leads to a cluttered and distracted mindset, which is less than ideal for a productive workspace.
Get rid of anything which does not have a place or purpose, and find storage solutions for essentials like stationary, documents, and other equipment.
Vertical storage is a great way to keep essential items both in reach and out of the way. Floating shelves and corkboards can hold all those things you need to keep referring to while you’re focussed on other tasks.
Go green
A home office should be a productive, lively space, so why not fill it with actual life?
As well as being attractive, plants and flowers will clean the air, making your office feel less stuffy. For some unobtrusive greenery which requires minimal care, consider a spider plant, a peace lily, or even a tiny office cactus.
Creating an inspiring, attractive workspace is easier than you may think.
